The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has published new guidance for pubs, titled “An Open Welcome: Making your pub more accessible for customers”, which will help licensees make their venues as welcoming as possible for those with disabilities.
The guidance has been published on Purple Tuesday 2019, an international call to action focused on changing the customer experience for disabled people and improving awareness of their value and needs.
An Open Welcome features advice for pubs ranging from employing people with disabilities, to training staff and importantly; the need for honest, up-to-date online information so that all customers can make an informed decision before they visit a pub. It also includes detailed information on Disability Confident, a scheme led by Department for Work and Pensions to help publicans hire disabled talent, and specific advice on making pub toilets accessible and better suited for disability needs.
The guide also includes tips and advice from charities on how pubs can cater to the whole community.
“Pubs are rightly known for being the heart of their communities, bringing people together under one roof. The hospitality of the pub extends to people with disabilities too. As a sector, we must continue to be as inclusive as we can be and highlight the accessibility of our facilities and their improvements.
“Not only is it the right thing to do, but it also makes good business sense. 10 million people in England and Wales have some form of disability, with spending power worth £249 billion annually when combined with their families.
“This new guide will help licensees understand how best to help disabled customers and ensure their venue is as welcoming as possible. said Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association.
